Bill Evans returns to UH to perform with UH jazz students at the Moores Opera House on April 16.

April 9, 2013-Houston-

April
is Jazz Appreciation Month, and the University of Houston is hosting one of the
genre’s true masters.

Veteran
saxophonist Bill Evans is on campus working with jazz students and will perform
with them at 7:30 p.m., April 16 in Moores Opera House (Entrance 16 off Cullen
Boulevard). His appearance at UH is made possible by the Vacek Jazz Artist
Residency, which brings top jazz musicians to campus for clinics and concerts.

Tickets
are $12 and $7 for students and seniors. They can be purchased by calling the
Moores Ticket Office at 713-743-3313 or online at www.music.uh.edu.

Evans
will deliver selections from his repertoire including “Cool Eddie,” “Soulgrass”
and “Let’s Pretend,” as well as “Woody’s Gold Star,” written for Woody Herman
by John Fedchock.

Evans’
career took off in the 1980s when he performed with Miles Davis during his
comeback period. He performed on Davis’s albums “The Man with the Horn,” “Decoy” and “We Want Miles.” Evans also has performed with a
variety of popular musicians including Mick Jagger, Willie Nelson, Ian Anderson
and the Allman Brothers. He previously visited UH for the 2009 Moores Jazz
Festival.

In
preparation for the April 16 concert, Evans is already on campus rehearsing and
teaching. Rehearsals and classes are free and open to the public. A detailed
list of events is listed on the UH Jazz website.

“He’s
a great player and has a clear message about the language of jazz
improvisation,” said Ryan Gabbart, assistant director for UH’s Jazz Ensembles.
“He’s a performer and educator, and that makes him a perfect fit for the Vacek
Jazz Artist Residency Program.”

The
Vacek Jazz Artist Residency Program brings jazz journeymen and educators to
campus twice a year. While visiting the university, they share their insights
on performing and the music industry with UH jazz students.

The
program is made possible by a gift from UH Moores School of Music alumnus Jeff
Vacek. After graduating in 1999, Vacek set aside his musical talents and became
an information technology entrepreneur. The lessons he learned as a jazz
student helped him remain disciplined and focused as a business owner. Last
year, he decided to give back to the program that gave him so much. The Vacek
Jazz Artist Residency launched in fall 2012 with special guest Dan Haerle.

“The
jazz program teaches students commitment, not giving up and staying focused,”
Vacek said. “These are all things that you need to succeed in any aspect of
your life, and I am happy to give back to the university and the jazz program
that changed mine.”

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About the University of Houston
The University of Houston is a Carnegie-designated Tier One public research
university recognized by The Princeton Review as one of the nation’s best
colleges for undergraduate education. UH serves the globally competitive
Houston and Gulf Coast Region by providing world-class faculty, experiential
learning and strategic industry partnerships. Located in the nation’s
fourth-largest city, UH serves more than 40,700 students in the most ethnically
and culturally diverse region in the country.